Parliament Business

MANDATE OF THE PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS DIVISION

The Mission of the Division is to, “Facilitate the effective conduct of Government Business in Parliament in order to enhance accountability of the executive to the legislature.”.

 To accomplish its Mission, the Parliamentary Business Division has the following Mandates:

1. Secretariat for the Vice President in Government Parliamentary Business

Article 74 (1) of the Constitution of Zambia provides that the President shall appoint the Vice-President to be the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly.

To help the Vice President carryout this mandate, the Parliamentary Business Division (PBD) is the Secretariat for the Vice President in matters of Government Parliamentary Business transacted in Parliament in his/her capacity as Leader of Government Business in Parliament.

  1. Secretariat for the Secretary to the Cabinet in Government Parliamentary Business

The Parliamentary Business Division (PBD) is the Secretariat for the Secretary to the Cabinet in matters of Government Parliamentary Business transacted in the House in his/her capacity as Head of Public Service Administration.

  1. Secretariat for the Parliamentary Planning Committee

The Parliamentary Business Division (PBD) is the Secretariat to the Parliamentary Planning Committee, which is a Cabinet sub-commission charged with the responsibility of planning the Executives’ Parliamentary Calendar of Work outlining the flow of government parliamentary business in the Parliament.

  1. Liaison between Government Ministries and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly

The Parliamentary Business Division (PBD) is the Government Liaison Office between Line Ministries, Provinces, other Public Institutions and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly on matters of Parliamentary Business.

 

5.Coordination of inputs into Presidential Speeches

Article 86 (1) of the Zambian Constitution states that, ‘the President shall, at least twice every year, attend and address the National Assembly.’ To this effect, the Parliamentary Business Division (PBD) coordinates the collection of inputs into the President’s speeches.

6.Coordination of the Executive’s response to Parliament’s Oversight

The Parliamentary Business Division (PBD) performs the key role of co-coordinating the performance of Parliamentary duties by all Government Line Ministries, Provinces, Statutory Agencies with the assistance of Parliamentary Liaison Officers appointed in each Ministry, Province, Department or Statutory Body in order to ensure the Executive arm of Government accounts to the Legislature.